49ers’ Reuben Foster suspended 2 games by NFL

By Mike Lerseth

Updated
3:46 pm CDT, Tuesday, July 3, 2018

In this Oct. 22, 2017 file photo, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster (56) stands on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Santa Clara, Calif. Foster has been arrested in Mississippi and charged with second-degree possession of marijuana. AL.com says the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office arrest database indicates Foster, who just finished his rookie season, was arrested Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) less

In this Oct. 22, 2017 file photo, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster (56) stands on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Santa Clara, Calif. Foster ... more

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP

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In this Oct. 22, 2017 file photo, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster (56) stands on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Santa Clara, Calif. Foster has been arrested in Mississippi and charged with second-degree possession of marijuana. AL.com says the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office arrest database indicates Foster, who just finished his rookie season, was arrested Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) less

In this Oct. 22, 2017 file photo, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster (56) stands on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Santa Clara, Calif. Foster ... more

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP

49ers’ Reuben Foster suspended 2 games by NFL

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The NFL on Tuesday suspended 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster without pay for the first two games of next season in connection with a pair of off-field incidents.

Foster was also fined, though the details were not disclosed.

Foster’s run-ins with law enforcement included an arrest for marijuana possession in Alabama in January and a weapons charge that was related to a since-recanted domestic violence allegation by his then-girlfriend in February.

“I accept the League’s decision and am sorry that my mistakes have hurt my team,” Foster said in a statement released by the team. “I have a responsibility to the 49ers, our fans and our community, and I am committed to learning from this situation and making better choices in the future. The support I have received over the last five months has been humbling, and I do not take it for granted.”

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The NFL has suspended 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster for two games for violating the league's personal conduct and substance of abuse policies.

Media: Sports Illustrated

Foster will miss the 49ers' season opener at Minnesota (Sept. 9) and the home opener against Detroit (Sept. 16). He's eligible to return to the active roster on Sept. 17, although he can participate in all of the 49ers' preseason practices and games.

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“Our organization understands and supports the League’s decision,” said 49ers’ general manager John Lynch in the team’s statement. “Although we are disappointed that Reuben will not be with our team for the first two games of the season, we will continue to work with him on making better decisions and eliminating unnecessary distractions. We are encouraged to see Reuben take responsibility for his mistakes, and hopeful that he has learned from them as well.”

The gun charge was part of Foster’s February arrest in which two felony domestic violence charges were dropped after his ex-girlfriend, Elissa Ennis, testified in April that she lied about Foster abusing her.

“We are disappointed because the evidence demonstrated that Mr. Foster seriously hurt his girlfriend,” Rosen said in a statement after the dismissal.

During Foster’s arrest in Los Gatos, police found a loaded Sig Sauer 516 rifle on a bathroom floor. The gun was legally purchased in Alabama but is illegal in California.

Foster’s misdemeanor marijuana possession charge stemming from his arrest in Tuscaloosa, Ala., was dismissed in May after he paid court costs, a $100 bail bond fee and completed a pre-trial diversion program.

Tuscaloosa (Ala.) County District Attorney Hays Webb said at the time that Foster’s diversion program included substance abuse classes and “several months of clean drug screen results.”

Foster, 24, was taken by the 49ers in the first round (31st overall) of the 2017 draft. He was injured in Week 1 of his rookie season and sat out six of the next seven games. In his Nov. 5 return, he had 13 tackles against Arizona.

Despite playing only 10 games, he finished the season as the 49ers’ second-leading tackler with 59 (trailing Dontae Johnson’s 68).